CONFIDENTIAL
For all these reasons
there is
will lead sooner or later to a
obtaining now.
a strong probabililty that inaction
very much worse situation than that
VI OPTIONS
14.
Following is an
examination of options by which we might try to
theoretical than real and are
(A) reduce the rate of arrival, (B) increase the rate of
of departure.
Some of these options are
included for the sake of completeness.
Ministers in the past.
A.
more
Some have been rejected by
Options designed to reduce the rate of arrival
15. (a) Tow newly arriving boats out to sea
Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and
and Brunei have all done this
(though there have
have been few reports
reports of such action recently). The
Hong Kong Government have contingency plans for towing vessels with
illegal immigrants or refugees outside the limits of Hong Kong's
waters in an emergency, but have never adopted such a policy in
respect of Vietnamese refugees. The only argument for such a course
an effective deterrent to
act as
is that it would undoubtedly
refugees making for Hong Kong. The arguments against are that it
would involve inflicting unacceptable risks on the occupants of the
boats and would be indefensible in terms of common humanity, and our
obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights. Ministers decided against adopting such a course
in March
1984.
A
CONFIDENTIAL